[Gameday XIV] GM PaleDim PF2 #6-08: Upon Wheels and Rime

Game Master PaleDim

WELCOME TO THE CHASE SUBSYSTEM

You must try to catch the goblins and recover the train models but face obstacles that slow you down. You overcome obstacles by earning Chase Points (CP) with skill checks.
* CS/S/F/CF: +2/+1/0/-1
* If you catch up to the goblins you may try to recover a train model with either a DC 18 Athletics/Thievery check
* Creative Solutions may get bonuses.

The goblins have a head start on you. They are one obstacle ahead of you.

The main hallway of the estate is in much worse shape now, with claw marks dug across the walls and floor and a thin patch of slippery ice spread around.

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CHASE TRACKER
Round 1
Obstacle MAIN HALLWAY

Skills
DC 16 Acrobatics to maintain balance
DC 15 Nature to identify the least slippery patches of ice.

Special Conditions
If you end up in the same Obstacle as the goblins you may, on your turn, attempt a DC 18 Athletics/Thievery to to wrench a train model from a goblin’s hand.

Successes 0/4

Goblin Thieves Location: 1 obstacle(s) ahead
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The bold may go.

Beezhul
Elidathas
Faethor
Gitaena

Beezhul springs to life, and sprints like a wild cat across the ice!

Acrobatics (T) vs DC 16: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Skittering here or there, she finds purchase, and pounces!

Nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

It never turns out to be that simple Faethor thinks as he hustles after the goblins, doing his best to avoid the ice.

Gitaena looks a little paler than usual at the physical task ahead. She is not used to dealing with ice and was never one to attempt sporting games. She activates her Nudge hex, then casts a cantrip asking Grandmother Spider for help. Then she starts running, trying to avoid the ice patches.

Nature, guidance: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 1 = 11

She slips and slides along as best she can.

Nature (T): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

The elf priest notices the slippery patches of ice and neatly dodges most of them as he scrambles after the goblins, wondering what he will do if he catches one.

Gitaena looks a little paler than usual at the physical task ahead. She is not used to dealing with ice and was never one to attempt sporting games. She activates her Nudge hex, then casts a cantrip asking Grandmother Spider for help. Then she starts running, trying to avoid the ice patches

This worked for the train design evaluation challenge when there was ample time, unfortunately during the chase there is not extra time for spells.

The team spots slippery patches of ice like nobody's business. Not once do they slip and fall on any of them.

Beezhul and Faethor, success. Eladithas critical success. 4/4 chase points, obstacle cleared!

They keep on the heels of the goblins.

The once well-maintained sitting room appointed by fine furniture and expensive artifacts has been thoroughly ransacked. A lingering winter goblin hurls a parting shot of a bejeweled and gilded egg while the staff that’s been cleaning the room are in hysterics, blocking most movement through the room.

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CHASE TRACKER
Round 2
Obstacle SITTING ROOM

Skills
DC 15 Diplomacy check to calm the panicked staff
DC 13 Thievery check to catch the gilded egg

Special Conditions
If you end up in the same Obstacle as the goblins you may, on your turn, attempt a DC 18 Athletics/Thievery to wrench a train model from a goblin’s hand.

Successes 0/4

Goblin Thieves Location: 1 obstacle(s) ahead
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The bold may go.

Beezhul
Elidathas
Faethor
Gitaena

"Everything is under control! Step to the side and we will handle this," Faethor bellows.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Gitaena gestures and implores the staff to step to the sides of the room. "We'll take care of these varmints!"

"Beeline for those rascals!" Beezhul weaves like a skilled hunter.

Diplomacy (T) vs DC 15: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Folks certainly clear the way for the Pathfinders, though they're not quite sure what "varmints" are. :)

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CHASE TRACKER
Round 2
Obstacle SITTING ROOM

Skills
DC 15 Diplomacy check to calm the panicked staff
DC 13 Thievery check to catch the gilded egg

Special Conditions
If you end up in the same Obstacle as the goblins you may, on your turn, attempt a DC 18 Athletics/Thievery to wrench a train model from a goblin’s hand.

Successes 2/4

Goblin Thieves Location: 1 obstacle(s) ahead
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The bold may go.

Beezhul
Elidathas
Faethor
Gitaena

Can I get a volunteer to bot Elidathas to move us forward?

Diplomacy (T): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

"Pardon" Eladithas of Wolfpoint speaks politely and divinely "We are in charge of those goblins ahead. Thank you for understanding"

On Eladithas' polite urging, the partly is able to move a little more easily through the sitting room. They're not quite through it yet.

We need one more success to clear this obstacle.

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CHASE TRACKER
Round 3
Obstacle SITTING ROOM

Skills
DC 15 Diplomacy check to calm the panicked staff
DC 13 Thievery check to catch the gilded egg

Special Conditions
If you end up in the same Obstacle as the goblins you may, on your turn, attempt a DC 18 Athletics/Thievery to wrench a train model from a goblin’s hand.

Successes 3/4

Goblin Thieves Location: 2 obstacle(s) ahead
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The bold may go.

Beezhul
Elidathas
Faethor
Gitaena

NOTE As soon as one of you succeeds, I'll switch the obstacle during this round.

"Almost through now!" Stuck in an eddy, Beezhul keeps her weave.

Diplomacy (T) vs DC 15: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Beezhul seems to delight the crowd in this room and expedite's the parties passage through it.

Sitting room passed!

Next is an entertaining room filled with large tables and assorted games from across the Inner Sea. The maids from the previous room can be heard shouting not to damage any of the game pieces or disturb the layout.

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CHASE TRACKER
Round 3
Obstacle GAME ROOM

Skills
DC 16 Athletics to climb over the tables
DC 18 Society check to realize which pieces are sturdy.

Special Conditions
If you end up in the same Obstacle as the goblins you may, on your turn, attempt a DC 18 Athletics/Thievery to wrench a train model from a goblin’s hand.

Successes 0/4

Goblin Thieves Location: 1 obstacle(s) ahead
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The bold may go.

Beezhul
Elidathas
Faethor
Gitaena

This will be interesting.

Faethor attempts to climb the tables.

Athletics: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (11) + 0 = 11

Athletics (U): 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1 Elidathas crashes into the tables, tumbles onto the floor and hurts his hip as he disastrously tries to navigate the tables.

Society: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Gitaena doesn't recognize enough from the games to help. I'm not sure what success at this task would have meant. What pieces and what does sturdiness of pieces have to do with moving quickly through the room?

Beezhul leaps over the tables of the game room - over the other's in her party stumbling about - and stopping a moment to help up Faethor and Eladithas...

Athletics (T) vs DC 16: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

...is able to help them up before moving along.

"I think we are losing them!"

Beezhul leaps over the tables of the game room - over the other's in her party stumbling about - and stopping a moment to help up Faethor and Eladithas...

[dice=Athletics (T) vs DC 16]1d20+7

...is able to help them up before moving along.

"I think we are losing them!"

you've already gone this round, but as I don't think we'll be passing the obstacle in this round I can apply it for the top of round 4

There is a very loud, overpowering clattering of tables and chairs that violently hit the floor and scatter in all directions.

Faethor fail, no progress and Elidathas crit fail, -1 chase point can barely decide whether the intense, dull throbbing pain is in fact worse that the temporary embarrassment.

I'm not sure what success at this task would have meant. What pieces and what does sturdiness of pieces have to do with moving quickly through the room?

Knowing what could be moved aside or stable enough to climb over without breaking under Pathfinder weight.

Gitaena starts finding pieces should can move slightly to cut a direct path, but misjudges one plush footrest can you say ottoman in Golarion? that she stubs her toe on, stopping her in her tracks.

regular fail, no progress

Start of round 4

Beezhul is able to help pull up his battered companions, restoring at least a bit of their dignity.

The goblins' racket seems to get a little further away.

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CHASE TRACKER
Round 4
Obstacle GAME ROOM

Skills
DC 16 Athletics to climb over the tables
DC 18 Society check to realize which pieces are sturdy.

Special Conditions
If you end up in the same Obstacle as the goblins you may, on your turn, attempt a DC 18 Athletics/Thievery to wrench a train model from a goblin’s hand.

Successes 0/4

Goblin Thieves Location: 2 obstacle(s) ahead
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The bold may go.

Beezhul
Elidathas
Faethor
Gitaena

Faethor gives it another go.

Athletics: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (15) + 0 = 15

Yeah this is going about as well as I expected.

I should know these things, Gitaena thinks to herself.

Society: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Faethor takes it slow and steady so as to not face plant again. He rubs his chin in a token attempt to soothe the dull pain while moving forward very sluggishly. Looking up, he finds himself boxed in by some of the knocked-over furniture. Failure/0 CP

Gitaena get a focus lock on sturdy and movable things in the room and starts to open a real path in front of her companions. Success! +1 CP. We'll get there yet :)

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CHASE TRACKER
Round 4
Obstacle GAME ROOM

Skills
DC 16 Athletics to climb over the tables
DC 18 Society check to realize which pieces are sturdy.

Special Conditions
If you end up in the same Obstacle as the goblins you may, on your turn, attempt a DC 18 Athletics/Thievery to wrench a train model from a goblin’s hand.

Successes 1/4

Goblin Thieves Location: 2 obstacle(s) ahead
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The bold may go.

Beezhul
Elidathas
Faethor
Gitaena

That should be 2 successes between Gitaena and Beezhul shouldn't it?

That should be 2 successes between Gitaena and Beezhul shouldn't it?

The crit fail imposed -1 CP

Athletics (U) vs DC 16: 1d20 ⇒ 16

Somehow, the cleric’s somewhat elven grace lets him glide over a table in pursuit of the fast, spunky goblins easily outrunning the more scholarly party!

Gitaena's face is glum as the inept goblins keep ahead of her and the others. She imagines each goblin in her father's basement back in Ustalav, awaiting their just deserts, served cold, of course.

Eladithas' strength comes out of nowhere! Is it the positioning of his form for leverage? Some other ancient elven technique? The others will have to convince him to reveal afterward!

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CHASE TRACKER
Round 5
Obstacle GAME ROOM

Skills
DC 16 Athletics to climb over the tables
DC 18 Society check to realize which pieces are sturdy.

Special Conditions
If you end up in the same Obstacle as the goblins you may, on your turn, attempt a DC 18 Athletics/Thievery to wrench a train model from a goblin’s hand.

Successes 2/4

Goblin Thieves Location: 3 obstacle(s) ahead
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The bold may go.

Beezhul
Elidathas
Faethor
Gitaena

Isn't this the same room?

Athletics (U): 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (14) + 0 = 14

Yeah we're stuck in here until we get two more successes. I'm gonna hold off rolling, the other 2 have a much better chance with these skills.

Beezhul forgets about the goblins, and focuses her energy on the pathfinders!

Athletics (T): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

To no avail - she trips herself up trying to hoist one of her unathletic wizard companions.

”If they get away, we can track them” she imagines hopefully.

The tables were starting to get to Faethor.

You've got dragon blood in your veins, Faethor. You can't let some furniture beat you. he thought as he tried once more.

Athletics: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (12) + 0 = 12

But it did.

Society: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Gitaena is not sure about the sturdiness of the things she examines next.

The group pauses and simply breathes. At this point this is not longer a chase, but as Beezhul surmises a tracking situation.

Chase over.

The goblins manage to elude you (for now), bringing with them the train models the representatives worked so hard to develop. While they can be recreated, it would be incredibly time consuming and likely erode all faith in the project.

Calix catches up with you.

Please. Find them and recover as many of the models as you can. Quickly... as I don't think they'll handle them with care!

He seems quite nervous and not the well-composed host you recently met.

The yard behind the estate is strangely quiet after the ruckus inside. A thin layer of snow and frost covers the ground, marred by the recent passage of small feet. The trail leads past a modest guest house apart from the main building and through underbrush to the Hoarwood’s evergreen trees beyond. A set of long icicles hang lazily from the guest house’s roof, a steady drip of ice melt sliding down their lengths.

Except... those aren't just icicles!

New map is up!

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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
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The bold may go!

Elidathas
BLUE
Faethor
Beezhul
GREEN
RED
Gitaena

1. Recall Knowledge on the ice creatures.
2 & 3. Cast Needle Darts on the creature on the left.

"Avaunt, demons! Begone!"

Nature (T): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Spell Attack Roll v. Left: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Needle Darts damage: 3d4 ⇒ (3, 1, 3) = 7 Doubled for the critical hit, plus 1 persistent bleed damage.

Beezhul stands ready to protect her friends.

~) Ever Ready (May always use Reactions before 1st turn)
↺) Intercept Attack (If Blue attacks anyone nearby)
~) Guardian's Armor (Resist 2 physical)

Eladithas knows that these are icicle snakes. Most well known about these is that they can hide remarkably well as icicles, indistinguishable from the natural variety while they concentrate on it.

Eladithas you get one more question about them with your critical success!

His needle darts tear through the first icicle snake, knocking entire segments off! Still it writhes around in the snow in pain.

It's companion (BLUE) slithers forward towards the party to rataliate. It glides to its left just before arriving in front of Beezhul. It raises up off of the ground in a stance like a king cobra, its head rearing back and body tensing before lunging forward to strike at the Kholo in front of it.

Beezhul easily sidesteps is! Miss

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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
After your Turn:
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The bold may go!

Elidathas
BLUE
Faethor
Beezhul
GREEN -14, 1 persistent bleed
RED
Gitaena

Faethor and Beezhul are up!

Faethor moves forward to engage. He draws back his right hand and a dragon's claw made of flame encases it which he stabs into the snake.

1 Action: Stride.
2 Actions: Cast Ignition (melee).

Spell Attack roll: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Fire Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 4) = 10

Well that tracks.

Beezhul hoot and hollars...

Feint (Deception, T) vs Blue Snake (Perception DC): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 @ Off-guard to Blue Snake!

...but only draws attention to herself!

◆) Feint
◆) Strike
◆) Taunt (Red Kite Off-guard 1-rnd and -1 attack unless it attack me!)
↺) Intercept Strike (if any PC is attacked, Beezhul will Step w/in 10-ft if Green or Stride w/in 15-ft if Red and take it instead)
~) Guardian's Armor (Resist physical damage 1)

Spirit Thresher (B, 2h; sweep, versatile S) vs Blue Snake: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 221d12 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

She slams into the blue snake, sundering it in a single powerful blow!

The snake is able to dodge Faethor's flames, but right into Beezhul's weapon 13 damage.

The other one slithers down to join its fellow snek. This one seems a little bigger and stronger!

Hissing, it strikes out at the sorcerer twice, missing!

It seems to weaken a little further 1 persistent damage, no recovery.

Meanwhile the kite floats towards Beezhul, and begins aggressively trying to batter her with its frame. The clumsy attempt just ends up tangling its own kite strings! miss

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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1 -> 2
Tactical Map
After your Turn:
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The bold may go!

Elidathas
BLUE -13
Faethor
Beezhul
GREEN -15, 1 persistent bleed
RED
Gitaena

I'm a little confused as to what the kite is. There has been no description of it that I can find.

Gitaena stays where she is, concentrates as three silvery spider webs form in front of her and then each becomes a missile of pure force that she sends at the enemies, concentrating them all on the kite.

◆◆◆ Force Barrage
Force Damage: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 3, 2) + 3 = 12

Second Recall Knowledge Question: Do Icicle Snakes have any vulnerabilities?

1. Cast Shield.
2 & 3. Cast Bless.

Elidathas invokes the spirit of Sarenrae to bless his allies.

Bless: You and your allies gain a +1 status bonus to attack rolls while within the emanation.

Elidathas knows that the icicle snakes are weak against fire (Weaknesses fire 5).

He establishes a radius of blessing for his allies.

Gitaena notices the small enchanted kite that has floated down from the trees nearby where the icicle snakes were recently hanging. It is, quite simply, enchanted paper stretched over a simple frame.

Sending force darts at it, she badly punctures the paper and mauls the frame. There's not much of it left, but still it wafts in the wind.

The blue icicle snake hisses and bites at Faethor repeatedly...

The first bite lands, doing no immediate physical damage. It feels like a nibble, almost a tickle. It's only a moment after that Faethor realizes it leaves behind the sting of cold. 0 immediate damage and 1d6–2 persistent cold

The second bite that lands is just a little stronger. 1 piercing damage, and the same persistent damage for no additional effect.

After this Faethor jumps aside and dodges the third bite.

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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 2
Tactical Map
Party effects: bless
After your Turn:
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The bold may go!

Elidathas
BLUE -13
Faethor, -1, 1d6–2 persistent cold
Beezhul
GREEN -15, 1 persistent bleed
RED -12
Gitaena

Beezhul keeps her flail swinging wildly, striking and barking at all three strange enemies!

◆◆) Strike x2
◆) Taunt (Green Snake Off-guard 1-rnd and -1 attack unless it attack me!)
↺) Intercept Strike (if any PC is attacked, Beezhul will Step w/in 10-ft if Red/Blue or Stride w/in 15-ft if Green and take it instead)
~) Guardian's Armor (Resist physical damage 1)

Spirit Thresher (B, 2h; sweep, versatile S) w/ Bless (+1) vs Red Kite: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 7 + 1 = 181d12 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Spirit Thresher (B, 2h; sweep, versatile S) w/ Bless (+1) w/ MAP (-5) w/ Sweep (+1) vs Blue Snake: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 5 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 7 + 1 - 5 + 1 = 171d12 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Faethor raises his hands above his head and then brings them down quickly, clawing in an X motion. He is not even close to hitting anything. Until two flaming dragon claws appear, one in front of each snake, mimicking his motions.

Spell Attack Green: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Slash Damage + Fire Damage: 1d8 + 1d4 ⇒ (3) + (2) = 5

Spell Attack Blue: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Slash Damage + Fire Damage: 1d8 + 1d4 ⇒ (2) + (1) = 3

Then with a small flourish he summons a shield and holds it out.

2 Actions Cast Flurry of Claws.
1 Action Cast Shield.

I forgot to roll to recover.

Recovery roll: 1d20 ⇒ 10

Beezhul flails her flails about wildy, first smashing through the kite hit and sunk, and then smashing through one of the icicle snakes hit and sunk.

None of the results would change so far, but don't forget Bless!

Faethor strikes an appropriately menacing pose. Unfortunately that also telegraphs his strikes to the last icicle snake which is able to dodge and duck in time.

A moment later, the cold reminds him of its presence.

Persistent cold damage: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (6) - 2 = 4

That last snake hisses its most menacing hiss and... begins fleeing!

It slithers away quickly, rounds the corner to the right. It disappears up the backside of a tree and ...?

Persistent recover (DC15 flat): 1d20 ⇒ 6

What do you do? Pursue? Try to pass it safely?

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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 2->3
Tactical Map
Party effects: bless
After your Turn:
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The bold may go!

Elidathas
BLUE -29
Faethor, -5, 1d6–2 persistent cold
Beezhul
GREEN -16, 1 persistent bleed
RED -27
Gitaena

The party is up!